Combination folding chair and table



Dec. 18, 1934. w c RASTETTER 1,984,699

COMBINATION FOLDING CHAIR AND TABLE Filed July 16, 1930 s Sheets-Sheet 1 6M INVENTOR.

% ATTORNEY.

Dec. 18, 1934. -w. c. RASTETTER COMBINATION FOLDING CHAIR AND TABLE Filed July 16, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 9 g WNI ENTOR.

. Tramway.

Dec. 18, 1934. w. c. RASTETTER 1,984,699

I COMBINATION FOLDING CHAIR AND TABLE 1 Filed July 16, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IH IIIHMIHIHII f mnvvmvroza.

s ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 18, 1934 Pars- COMBINATION FOLDING CHAIR AND TABLE .William Charles Rastetter, Fort Wayne, Ind.

Application July 16, 1930, Serial No. 468,400

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a combination folding chair and table. One of the objects of the invention is to provide a collapsible chair with a folding table in supported relation with the chair that will serve also as an arm-rest, and to so form the table as to extend, when in use, partially in front of the occupant and along one side of the chair while the opposite side of the chair is free from obstructions which permits ready ingress and egress.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention in a preferred form is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the folding chair and table in extended position;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation projected from Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of the chair and table in folded position; and

Fig. 4 is a side elevation projected from Fig. 3.

The chairv shown in the drawings consists of a frame 1 having side members 2 connected by a cross-piece 3 located between its top and bottom, and a backrest 4 that is secured at its ends respectively to the cross-piece and the top of the frame.

A seat-frame 5 provided withcurved brackets 6 atits rear end is pivoted to the side members respectively as indicated by '7, said brackets extending on the inner faces of the seat-frame and side members 2 and being so disposed that the seat-frame, when folded, extends in front of the back-frame in a plane parallel therewith. The

back-frame 1 and the seat-frame 5 are preferably each made of a single strip of material bent in the form of the letter U, and the seat-frame has secured thereon a seat 8 made of any suitable .material.

In Letters Patent No. 1,693,349 issued to me November 2'7, 1928 for a folding chair, a structure is shown wherein a pair of rear legs are pivotally related with the seat-frame by means of a transverse rod that extends through the legs and frame. Also, in my previous application, Sr. No. 433,634, filed March 6, 1930 for folding arm chairs a structure is shown wherein fore and rear legs are pivotally related with the seat-frame by means of a transverse rod that extends through the legs and frame, the forelegs being externally disposed with respect to the seat-frame and provided with upward extensions with supports for folding arms that have hinged connections with the back-frame. In the present instance, the

seat-frame 5 is pivotally related with a pair of.

forelegs 9 and 10 by means of a transverse rod 11. However, the foreleg 9 is pivoted upon the rod 11 at a point thereon located between the corresponding side 13 of the seat-frame 5 and the adjacent rear leg 12 so as to fold therebetween, and the opposite side 13' of the seat-frame is disposed upon the rod 11 between the rear leg 12 and the foreleg 10. In this manner when the chair is folded the rear legs 12 and 12 extend in the plane of the seat-frame between the sides thereof and the forelegs also extend in the plane of the seat, the foreleg 12 extending in a plane between the sides of the seat while the other foreleg 10 extends in a plane externally of the seat-frame.

The rear legs 12 and 12' are provided with a brace consisting of cross-arms 14 which are riveted together at their intersection, the lower ends of said arms being secured respectively to the rear legs at corresponding points between the ends thereof, the upper ends of said arms being secured upon the seat rod 11 which passes therethrough. The forelegs 9 and 10 are provided with a brace-frame 15 by means of which they are secured a definite distance apart.

The foreleg 10 has an extension 16 that pro; jects upwardly beyond the seat-rod and constitutes a support for a table top 17, there being a bracket 18 secured to the table top that has pivotal connection with the extension 16 at the upper end thereof. The table top has a rearward extension 19 which is pivoted to the corresponding side member 2, as indicated by 20, and constitutes an arm-rest contiguous with the table top. The forward portion of the table top 1? has a lateral extension 21 that projects toward the opposite side of the chair to a point partway between the sides of the seat when extended for use (Figs. 1 and 2) and partway over the top of the backframe when folded. (Figs. 3 and 4.)

A brace 22 is secured to the outer side of the foreleg 10 and to its extension 16 and has hinged connection with the table top 17 by means of a .bracket 23 that depends therefrom. In this manner lateral tilting movement of the table top is prevented.

The lower ends of the side members 2 of the back-frame has secured thereto a cross member consisting of a rod 2 1 which is connected with the rear leg structure by means of a pair of links 25, the rod 24 extending through one end of each link while the opposite end of each link is pivoted to the corresponding legs 12 and 12 upon the inner face thereof as indicated by 26. The foreleg 9 is connected with the rod 24 by means of a link 27, one end of which is connected with said rod at a point thereon adjacent the inner face of the corresponding side member 2 of the backframe, while its opposite end is pivoted to the foreleg 9 upon the outer face thereof. The foreleg 10 also is connected with the rod 24 by means of a link 28, one end of which is connected to said rod at a point thereon adjacent the outer face of the corresponding side member 2 of the backframe and at its opposite end with the foreleg 10 as indicated by 29 upon the inner face thereof.

The forelegs 9 and 10 are positioned with respect to the back-rest and seat-frame so that the foreleg 9 is positioned inwardly from the corresponding sides of said frames, so that when the structure is in position for use theside of the seatframe that is separated by the foreleg 9 is unencumbered thereby, while the foreleg 10 is positioned outwardly from the opposite side of the seat-frame so that the occupant is not encumbered by its extension 16. This is one of the fea tures of the invention that contributes commodiousness to the seat and convenience of ingress and egress.

The transverse rod 24 in the lower end of the back-frame has bearing relation with the rear legs when the chair is unfolded and limits the spread between the fore and rear legs, and a latch 30 is conveniently pivoted on one of the rear legs 12' and has locking engagement with the rod 24 so as to prevent the chair from being collapsed unintentionally. By pressing downwardly upon the latch, as with the foot, the latch becomes disengaged from the rod and permits folding of the chair.

When the chair is folded the fore and rear legs extend in a plane parallel with that of the backframe, the rear legs being disposed between the sides of the seat, the foreleg 10 being disposed exteriorly with respect to the seat-frame, the otherforeleg 9 being disposed in a plane lying within the seat-frame, and the table top being disposed in a common plane with the back-rest and etxending partially over the top thereof. With the parts thus arranged, when the chair is folded, the structure presents a compact body which facilitates storage and portability.

I claim:

1. A folding chair including a back frame a seat foldably connected to the back frame, foldably connected fore and rear leg structures, foldably connected to the seat frame, links connecting said back frame and leg structures, one of the legs of the foreleg structure having an upwardly projecting extension, a member having a table top at its forward portion and a rearwardly extending portion forming an arm rest, said member having pivotal connection with the back frame and with said extension of the foreleg structure, a brace of strip-like material rigidly secured at its lower end to saidforeleg structure at a point adjacent the lower end of the latter and being outwardly inclined and pivotally connected at its upper end with the table top adjacent the outer side thereof at a point spaced outwardly from and horizontally alined with the pivotal connection between. said member and foreleg extension, said brace having an upper portion extending inwardly and downwardly toward and rigidly secured to the foreleg extension at a point adjacent the upper end of the latter, and having an outwardly extending lower portion secured to the body of the brace below said connection between the inwardly extending portion of the brace and the foreleg extension.

2. A folding chair including a back frame, a seat foldably connected to the back frame, foldably connected fore and rear leg structures, foldably connected to the seat frame, links connecting said back frame and leg structures, one of the legs of the foreleg structure having an upwardly projecting extension, a member having a table top at its forward portion and a rearwardly extending portion forming an armrest, said member having pivotal connection with the back frame and with said extension of the foreleg structure, a brace composed of a single strip of material rigidly secured at. its lower end to the foreleg structure adjacent the lower end of the latter and being outwardly inclined and doubled upon itself at a point adjacent to the table top member and. pivoted to the latter and having a part extending downwardly toward the foreleg structure and secured thereto and having a part extending outwardly and secured to the body of the brace below the upper connection of the latter with the foreleg extension.

WILLIAM CHARLES RASTETTER. 

